EFFECT OF INTRATYMPANICALLY ADMINISTERED GENTAMICIN ON HEARING AND TINNITUS IN MENIERES-DISEASE

We have examined the effect of intratympanic gentamicin on hearing and tinnitus in 69 patients with intractable Meniere's disease. Tinnitus was scored from 1 to 4 depending on its severity. The mean pure tone a udiometry level before treatment was 57.5 dB and 1 year after treatmen t 63.5 dB. Five subjects became deaf in the treated ear, and in 13 sub jects hearing loss was >10 dB and in 21 subjects 0-10 dB. In 25 subjec ts significant improvement (>10 dB) was gained, and in 5 patients hear ing remained unchanged. The older subjects developed greater post-trea tment hearing loss than the younger patients. Tinnitus was significant ly reduced after treatment with gentamicin. A total of 66 patients had tinnitus before treatment and tinnitus relief was rated as good. Four percent of the subjects had no tinnitus, 30% had slight tinnitus, 27% moderate tinnitus, 18% severe, and 8% handicapping tinnitus.